A long-standing Dundee-based coach company, Fishers Tours, has collapsed into liquidation, ceasing all operations and leaving 27 staff without work. The company, a key player in school transport and group travel in Tayside for over 20 years, has shut down amid soaring operating costs and inflexible contract prices.
Sudden Closure Hits Community Hard
The abrupt closure, confirmed on Monday 2 June, has already disrupted services across Dundee and Angus, where local councils are now scrambling to plug the gaps left in school transport routes.
Joint provisional liquidators James Dewar and Alistair McAlinden from restructuring specialists Interpath Advisory have been appointed to oversee the process. All pre-booked services, including school runs, holiday tours, and event hires, have been cancelled.
In a statement, the liquidators said:
“In recent months, the business has faced financial challenges amidst rising costs but operated with fixed price customer contracts, which impacted its ability to meet its financial obligations.”
Customers with outstanding bookings or deposits are being urged to contact their banks or card providers to seek refunds.
A Fixture in Tayside Travel
Fishers Tours operated from the Mid Craigie Industrial Estate and ran a fleet of 18 coaches. It was widely known in the Dundee and Angus region for both private hires and scheduled services for school children, concert-goers, and day-trippers.
Local authorities are now dealing with the fallout. Dundee City Council and Angus Council confirmed they are working “to ensure continuity of school transport services” with replacement operators.
Liquidator: “Devastating Impact on Community”
Alistair McAlinden, joint liquidator and managing director at Interpath, acknowledged the company’s historic role:
“Fishers Tours has been a core part of the local transport network in the Dundee City and Angus region for more than two decades. We recognise the devastating impact the closure of the business will have on staff, customers and the wider community.”
He added that Interpath’s focus will now shift to:
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Investigating the circumstances behind the financial collapse
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Assisting former employees in making redundancy claims via the Redundancy Payments Office
Behind the Collapse: Rising Costs, Fixed Prices
Fishers Tours’ financial woes appear to mirror wider challenges across the UK’s transport sector. While fuel prices, insurance, maintenance, and staffing costs have risen sharply in recent years, many operators—especially those serving public contracts—are bound by multi-year agreements that don’t account for inflation.
This mismatch has become a death knell for small to mid-sized coach operators, many of whom operate on razor-thin margins.
Fishers Tours had attempted to ride out the pressure, but fixed-price contracts reportedly left the company unable to keep up with escalating outgoings.
Industry Headwinds Growing
Fishers Tours is not alone. The UK coach and bus industry has been increasingly squeezed by:
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Fuel cost volatility
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Driver shortages
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Insurance hikes
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Inflexible tendering frameworks from councils and schools
While larger operators can absorb or offset costs, smaller regional firms like Fishers Tours are proving increasingly vulnerable.
What Happens Next?
With services now halted, the focus turns to customers and employees:
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Staff: All 27 employees have been made redundant. Interpath will support them through government schemes for redundancy pay and benefits claims.
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Customers: Anyone with a booking or deposit is advised to contact their card issuer or bank as soon as possible.
Local councils have yet to provide a full timetable for how and when replacement school bus services will begin, but both Dundee and Angus authorities are expected to announce interim plans shortly.
